Attorney Amy Bentz has been selected to be the Program Chair for the Surety Claims Institute Conferences for the years 2017 and 2018.

Barton Works to Complete Historic Loan For Faith-Based Lender

Bentz Law Firm attorney David Barton recently completed a historic New Markets Tax Credit refinancing of a large construction project for The Chicago Tabernacle of the Assemblies of God. Representing faith-based lender Heritage Investment Services Fund, Inc. (HIS Fund), Barton, along with HIS Fund special counsel David A. York, attorneys for U.S. Bank Community Development Corporation, and attorneys for the Chicago Tabernacle of the Assemblies of God, recently completed the refinancing of nearly Nine Million Dollars in debt which permitted the Chicago Tabernacle to take advantage of an additional $1.5 Million in investment.

This new investment was made possible by federal and state laws involving New Markets Tax Credits designed to spur investment in economically distressed communities.

HIS Fund, based in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is a national lender to Assemblies of God Churches, and the transaction is believed to be the largest for a Pennsylvania faith-based lender involving New Markets Tax Credits.

David Barton Appointed to Court of Judicial Discipline

David Barton was sworn in on June 5, 2015 as a judge of the Court of Judicial Discipline. Barton was appointed to a four year term by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The Court of Judicial Discipline has jurisdiction over all judicial officers in Pennsylvania and must hear and decide formal charges which are filed against a judicial officer.

Judicial officers include all magisterial district judges; judges of the Courts of Common Pleas, the Commonwealth Court and the Superior Court; and justices of the Supreme Court. The Court of Judicial Discipline has the authority to impose sanctions, ranging from a reprimand to removal from office, if the formal charges are sustained.

The Supreme Court appoints two judges, a magisterial district judge, and a non-lawyer. The Governor appoints one judge, two lawyers and one non-lawyer member. Barton's appointment fulfills the constitutional requirement that one of the eight member seats be a commissioned magisterial district judge, a position that Barton has held since 1996.

Amy Bentz to Speak at Surety Claims Institute Seminar

Amy Bentz has been chosen to speak at the Surety Claims Institute Seminar being held June 24, 2015 through June 26, 2015. The topic she will be speaking on is "Ethics: The Duties of a Surety Lawyer and the Ethical Traps in Keeping, Maintaining and Producing Electronically Stored Information."

David Barton Selected As Solicitor For Judicial Association

Bentz Law Firm attorney David Barton was selected to serve as Solicitor for the Sixth District of the Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania. The Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania is recognized by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as representing the interests of Pennsylvania's 558 magisterial district and Philadelphia municipal court judges. The Association's sixth district encompasses Allegheny County and its 45 magisterial district judges. As solicitor, Barton will counsel and advise the Allegheny County association in various matters. Barton replaces Judge Dennis R. Joyce, who became solicitor for the statewide association in May.

Count to 90 Before You Count Your Money

Len Spagnolo has written an article explaining how businesses can be required to return payments they received for goods and services they sold to customers who end up in bankruptcy. The article, entitled "Count to 90 Before You Count Your Money" contains information every business person must know to protect their business before their customer files bankruptcy. You can access the free articles by Clicking Here.

Amy Bentz

Amy Bentz has been selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2015 Best Lawyers in America listing in the practice area of Construction Law.

Leonard Spagnolo Appointed as a Mediator and Early Neutral Evaluator in Federal Courts

Len Spagnolo has been appointed as a mediator and early neutral evaluator in two federal courts, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.